Blue Monday? It’s all about ‘brew Monday’ today

Blue Monday? It’s all about ‘brew Monday’ today

'A cuppa with friends makes the perfect blend'

Today, the third Monday of January, is known as the most miserable day of the year. But it doesn’t have to be.

A cosy Samaritans campaign is running today to get people talking about their feelings and to combat Blue Monday.

People all over Ireland and the UK are encouraged to get their mugs out for Brew Monday and help raise vital funds to support Samaritans’ life-saving work The celebri-tea backed campaign aims to inspire people to get together with friends, family and work colleagues, who may be lonely, for a cuppa and a chat.

A&E doctor and Love Island contestant Dr Alex George is one of the famous faces highlighting the positive mental health movement.

Dr Alex said: “Moments like Brew Monday can help make us more aware of the need to reach out to people who might be feeling lonely. Reaching out to someone over a cuppa, could possibly make all the difference. It’s like the domino effect – a chain reaction of positive events.”

Dr Alex George supports the Samaritans’ Blue Monday

It’s not all about biscuits though – there’s a serious side to Brew Monday, as loneliness is an issue that can affect everyone, including young people. A report launched today by Samaritans looked at the role loneliness can play in suicide risk.

Researchers spoke to 18-24 year olds about their experiences of loneliness and suicidal feelings. They found that loneliness played a significant role in young people’s suicidal thoughts, with many citing the stigma around loneliness as the main reason preventing them getting the help they needed.